Love those Leopards!  

What is it that that boy in the gillie suit is holding in picture two?

I'm not entirely sure but it kind of looks like an AT-4 to me.

I got one of these in the stash too. Is it me or am I the only one that prefers the look of the slab sided turret as opposed to the newer ones with the arrowhead profile?

Looks to me like it could be a M107 rifle but not 100% sure looking a t he muzzle brake

Looking forward to seeing the weathering magic you perform.

And it looks like a blunderbuss to me.

Hercmech: I can't say I'm a Leopard lover but this one sure struck me as one cool looking tank!

Mechtech:  Not sure what's he's holding...looks like a couple others have chimed in with guesses.

Blitzwing: AMEN on the this turret shape versus the arrowhead look! 

wing nut: I have a bunch of new MIG powders just waiting to get lathered on this one!  what the heck is a blunderbuss?!

wing_nut

Looking forward to seeing the weathering magic you perform.

And it looks like a blunderbuss to me.

Me too!

Love the look of the Leopard too, one of the best looking tanks out there. Looking forward to seeing her come together.

SMJmodeler

 

 

That looks like one of the "viper" MILES trainers. The Viper was a replacement for the M72 that was never purchased. But at the time it was under development, the Army was also developing the MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System) training system. So they bought the Viper training weapons, but not the real deal. It was a single shot shoulder fired rocket launcher, just like the M72 LAW and AT-4, but its' armor penetration was not sufficient. That is why the AT-4 was developed. You can see the MILES sensor belt around the base of the turret of the Leopard. Those shots do bring back memories of Hohenfels for me...

That Leopard is a good looking tank indeed. I will be watching how the Hobyboss kit builds up. I did the Testors/Italeri kit ages ago in the late 80s when it was a new release...

SMJ

Can't wait to see what you are going to do with this. Ironically, I was scoping out one of these puppies in that sale... now you have really planted the seed.

MILES kill light? Come on, we all know it's called a "Whoopie Light"! Back in the day it was rare to see a German tank muddy, but the Leopard 2 is definitely one of the better looking MBTs of the 20th Century.

it is a good looking tank,

yes a whoopie light. and the "God" gun. i had a lanyard i always wore with all 4 keys: yellow, orange, green "God" key, and the "illegal black key with not nub to realign pins. still have them in fact. i could walk down a bradley line, look through the down ramp into the turret and tell if the cable was connected to the box just by the angle. did you ever hear the garanimal explanation for connecting cables? that was my invention.

Gamera:  Yep, she's a good-looking beast!

Stikpusher/waynec:  Thanks for the info on the hardware gentlemen...while I have your attention will you scroll back to the 3rd photo and please tell me what the black drape is for on the lower front of the hull.

bbrowniii:  Cool man...of course great minds think alike!   FYI: only 2 DAYS LEFT on the sale so grab it soon.  IF YOU DO, be sure to follow along, I'll be posting a several things you'll want to be aware of as you build.  AND,

Guys: I'm striking out on my search for an AM barrel...any help/info would be appreciated.

Hey SMJ,

Try this one for a barrel - http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=RB-35B47

If you want to go the whole hog, Bronco make workable indy-tracks if you don't like the original rubber bands.

The HobbyBoss Leopards are nice kits, but they do have some pretty badly exaggerated anti-slip patches, which resemble raised panels. I don't know what, if anything, you can do about those.

Phil_H:  I feel like such a dunce!!!  I seem to have a real problem finding AM stuff.  I tried the web and keyword searched and I also went to Sprue Brothers...both to no avail!

AND YOU, within 30 minutes of my request, give me a link to LuckyModel and BAM there it is!  Thank you.   I think I'll stick to LuckyModel (which I like) and just learn to surf the site better.  Thanks again!

waynec:  I bought the Leopard for $15.99 + shipping through LuckyModel...the sale goes on for two more days.

Thanks for the tarp info...I thought it looked cool.

SMJmodeler

An educated SWAG says that the sheeting in front is a skirt to detonate ATGMs or other hollow/shaped charged warhead projectiles that are coming in to the lower front armor. I have only seen that on some Soviet tanks before. Interesting....

Ought to make for a fun project Steve, looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

Yes , good looking tank them Germans have . I always thought the Germans were smart for staying with a conventional diesel power plant ...........instead of going the way of the Abrams gas turbine engine .

smj - I'm really looking forward to this one!  First, I've been wondering about the quality and buildability of these Hobby Boss kits.  I've been kind of eyeing the Leopard 2A6X as well as this one.  Second, I'm eager to see how you'll weather a modern tank.  You're armor weathering always inspired me and I was actually thinking of your old T-34/85 when was weathering an Italian M-13/40 yesterday!

bufflehead

I've been kind of eyeing the Leopard 2A6X as well as this one.  

Bufflehead, if you are thinking about the HB Leopard 2A6EX, be aware that this is based on a one-off company demonstrator/prototype "show vehicle" built to enourage export sales (hence the "EX" designator). None have entered service in this particular configuration.

Shows you how much I know about moder AFVs!!  Thanks for the heads-up Phil, I did mean to type EX.  What is it a prototype of?

BTW, anyone know the best 2A6 kit available?

bufflehead

Shows you how much I know about moder AFVs!!  Thanks for the heads-up Phil, I did mean to type EX.  What is it a prototype of?

BTW, anyone know the best 2A6 kit available?

stikpusher:  Thanks for the help on the tarp...I think it will make for a nice custom touch!

waynec:  Grabbed yourself one these bad-boys, huh?  Watch for my build notes/commentary...there's a few things you'll want to be aware of as you build!

Shellback: Cool powerplant photo!!!

bufflehead:  There's been a few people wanting to know the quality/build-ability of HobbyBoss.  Go check out redleg's High-Speed tractor too!  The weathering will have to be a bit different for the "modern look".  I have some nice photos of a real 6 x 6 cargo truck and humvee that are in a three-color scheme...they should help.  WOW, I'm impressed that my T34/85 still inspires you...thank you for the compliment.

wbill76:  Thank's for checking in!

SMJmodeler

bufflehead:   WOW, I'm impressed that my T34/85 still inspires you...thank you for the compliment.

Are you kidding?  I followed both that build and the Tamiya Jagdpanzer IV that you did back then!  I was (and continue to be) inspired by your bold weathering experiments!  I plan on doing just what you did....build an older kit OOB so as not to worry about cost, extra build time and delicate PE parts and focus on new (for me!)  weathering techniques!  Things like fading with oil colors, hairspray and salt chipping, color modulation, etc!!  Yeah Baby Yeah!!